The U.S. National Under-17 Team enters the semifinal round to face Canada's Team Quebec. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Team USA earned the top seed in Group B by defeating Ontario, 6-2, yesterday. The win improved the Americans record to 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in preliminary round action. Quebec toughed out a 4-1 win over West yesterday and edged out Sweden to claim the second seed in Group A. Quebec went 2-0-1-1 in preliminary play.

(Cover photo courtesy of Andy Devlin/Hockey Canada Images)

The Americans clashed with Canada's Team Quebec in this year's pre-tournament tilt at Richmond Arena in Louisdale, Nova Scotia. Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y./1-2), Luke Kirwan (Dewitt, N.Y./1-2) and Colin White (Hanover, Mass./2-1) each registered three-point efforts, as the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team defeated Quebec, 6-2.

Prior to this year's tournament, Team USA and Quebec met twice in 2013, with the U.S. claiming victory both times. Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.) netted one goal and added two assists in the first win on Dec. 31, 2013, in Victoriaville, Quebec. Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.), Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.), Austin Poganski (St. Cloud, Minn.) and Ryan Bliss (Chelmsford, Mass.) also scored for the Americans. Chris Birdsall (Glen Rock, N.J.) made 17 saves in the 5-1 triumph. In the second meeting, third place was on the line in Drummondville. Poganski tallied three goals, one in each period, as Team USA clipped Quebec, 4-3. Birdsall turned in a 26-save performance between the pipes.

• The United States finished with an undefeated 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record, the only team in the tournament to do so.
• Colin White leads all skaters with 12 points and seven goals in four games. The five assists by the forward ranks tied for second most.
• Luke Kirwan is right behind with 10 points, good for second among players in the tournament. The forward is one of four skaters tied for second with five assists. Teammate and blueliner Joseph Masonius (Spring Lake, N.J.) also has five assists.
• Michael Lackey (Washington, D.C.) ranks tied for first in goals-against average (1.00), while counterpart Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) holds down the third spot (1.50). Additionally, the netminding duo ranks third (Lackey/.949) and seventh (Opilka/.927) respectively in save percentage.
• The Americans rank first in goals per game (8.50). The next closest team is Canada's Team Ontario (5.00). On the flip side of the puck, Team USA allows 1.25 goals per game on average, also a tournament best.
• The U.S. ranks second on the power play (25.0%) and second on the penalty kill (92.3%).
• Team USA claimed third place in last year's tournament after back-to-back second place finishes (2011, 2012). The U.S. won the tournament in 2010 and has now placed in the top three for seven consecutive years (2006, 2008-13). No tournament was held in 2007.
• The U.S. enters the tournament having captured first place three times (2001-02, 2010) and second place four times (1999, 2008, 2011-12).
• All 22 players on the roster come from the U.S. National Under-17 Team that is part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
• The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from the Czech Republic, Pacific, Quebec, Sweden and West. Pool B consists of teams from Atlantic, Germany, Ontario, Russia and the United States.
• Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #WU17.
• For additional coverage, visit the NTDP Facebook page and follow @USANTDP on Twitter.
• The U.S. National Under-17 Team trains with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

West 1 Quebec 4
Emera Centre Northside, North Sydney, N.S.

Atlantic 3 Russia 5
Centre 200, Sydney, N.S.

Sweden 1 Pacific 3
Emera Centre Northside, North Sydney, N.S.

USA 6 Ontario 2
Centre 200, Sydney, N.S.